Engineering Services Acquisitions in Utah

ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) has acquired VARA 3D, Inc., a Murray, Utah-based surveying and 3D mapping firm. The deal expands ZenaTech's Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) and drone-enabled inspection capabilities and accelerates its entry into the high-growth solar infrastructure market.

Jensen Hughes, a Gryphon Investors-backed global engineering and consulting firm, has acquired Safety Management Services, Inc. (SMS), an energetic materials and process safety engineering and testing firm headquartered in West Jordan, Utah. The deal expands Jensen Hughes' capabilities in process safety, energetic materials testing and related risk-management services and will be integrated into its broader global platform.

Apex Companies, LLC has acquired Forsgren Associates, Inc., a multi-discipline civil engineering, environmental sciences, and land surveying firm serving the Intermountain West. The deal adds deep engineering capabilities and expands Apex's operational presence across the Rockies and Pacific Northwest as Forsgren will operate as Forsgren, an Apex Company.

Salt Brothers Holdings, LLC acquired Hales Engineering, LLC, a Lehi, Utah–based traffic engineering and transportation planning firm. The transaction, advised by Generational Group, closed on April 26, 2024.

Atwell has acquired the operations of Summit Engineering Group, a civil engineering and land surveying firm headquartered in Heber City, Utah, marking Atwell’s first permanent office in Utah and expanding its western U.S. footprint. Terms were not disclosed; Summit, founded in 2001, will integrate into Atwell’s national consulting, engineering, and construction services platform to broaden service offerings for clients in Utah.

Court Square Capital Partners completed a majority recapitalization of GoEngineer, a Salt Lake City–based provider of 3D design, PLM software and additive manufacturing solutions. Founder and CEO Ken Coburn will remain a significant investor and the partnership will support geographic growth and expanded engineering, sales and services capabilities.

JSI, a Stone-Goff Partners portfolio company, has acquired Mid-State Consultants, Inc., a Nephi, Utah–based broadband engineering firm. The add-on expands JSI's engineering capabilities and gives the company a stronger foothold in the western U.S., Alaska and Hawaii.

Vancouver-based private equity firm CAI Capital Partners has made a growth investment in CMT Engineering Laboratories, a Salt Lake City–headquartered provider of civil and geotechnical engineering, land surveying, and construction materials testing services. The existing owner-managers, led by President Doug Watson, retain a meaningful equity stake and will remain in their current roles as CAI supports geographic and service-line growth.